63. Breakout

Inside the underground shelter's medical room, time seemed to have finally returned to its normal pace. The air was filled with the clean, sharp scent of disinfectant, replacing the lingering smell of blood and mold from the outside world. Soft artificial light streamed down from the broken but still functional ceiling panels, illuminating this relatively clean space, imbued with a sense of old-fashioned technology.

Su Lin lay on the medical bed in the center, still sound asleep. His face was no longer the frightening pallor it once was, having regained a near-translucent whiteness. A few strands of soft black hair, damp with sweat, clung to his forehead, and his long eyelashes fluttered slightly with his steady breathing, like the wings of a butterfly perched on the edge of the snow. Ling Ye pulled a chair over to sit beside the bed. He didn't close his eyes to rest, his back straight, his gaze mostly fixed on Su Lin's face, occasionally glancing toward the medical room door to make sure it was clear. His bayonet lay within easy reach on the bedside cabinet, gleaming with a cold metallic sheen. Only when Su Lin murmured unconsciously in his sleep or frowned slightly would Ling Ye lean forward, gently brushing the strands of hair away from his forehead with his fingertips or adjusting the flow rate of the IV line, his movements delicate and delicate, a gesture that belied his cold, hard demeanor.

Lei Qing wasted no time. After confirming the safety of the shelter, he immediately began a methodical deployment. At this moment, he stood in the center of the medical room, with Mu Lin and Xingchen standing in front of him.

"Mu Lin," Lei Qing said in a low, steady voice, "your mission is to ensure that Su Lin and A Yan recover steadily from their injuries. Utilize the equipment here to conduct the most comprehensive examinations and treatments. Also, conduct a comprehensive inventory of all medicines and equipment in the medical area. We need to know what we have and how long they will last."

"I understand, Captain Lei." Mu Lin nodded. His face was tired from running around for days, but his eyes were bright and focused. "I have given Su Lin broad-spectrum antibiotics and nutritional support, and his vital signs are stable. A Yan's injuries require debridement and sutures. The equipment here is much more complete than our own, and I can handle it better. I'll start a comprehensive inventory now." He turned and walked towards the dusty but well-structured medical cabinets, and began to carefully check and sort them, his movements professional and quick.

Lei Qing turned his gaze to Xingchen: "Xingchen, how is your mental strength recovering?"

Xingchen took a deep breath and sensed the state of his sea of ​​consciousness. "It's much better than before. The energy field here is very stable. There's no interference or pressure from the outside world. It's recovering very quickly. I've recovered about 60%."

"Very good." Lei Qing pointed outside the door. "You have two tasks. First, explore the overall structure of this shelter in as much detail as possible to confirm whether there are other exits or hidden dangers besides the entrance we came in. Second, and most importantly," he emphasized, "use your mental power to carefully explore the outside world without being noticed. I need to know the extent of the Guichen Sect's search, whether they have discovered this entrance, and... whether the possible 'Nirvana' priest is still nearby."

Xingchen's expression darkened. He knew the danger of the second mission. "I understand, Captain Lei. I'll be careful." He walked to a relatively quiet corner of the medical ward, sat cross-legged, and closed his eyes. His invisible mental energy began to flow like a gentle stream, first permeating the entire shelter, sensing the thickness of the walls, the direction of the pipes, and the layout of every room. Then, cautiously, like a tentacle, it extended outward with extreme caution towards the single exit.

A Yan's injuries were relatively more difficult to treat. He lay silently on another medical bed, allowing Mu Lin to operate on him. His naked upper body had clear muscle lines, but was covered with crisscrossing wounds. The deepest one stretched from the shoulder blade to the waist, with the skin and flesh rolled up. Mu Lin first carefully cleaned the wound with the professional disinfectant found here. A Yan's forehead veins bulged, but he refused to say a word. Then came the suturing. Mu Lin's technique was precise and steady, and the needle and thread made a slight sound as it passed through the flesh. Ling Ye would occasionally glance over, his eyes lingering for a moment on A Yan's wounds that were so deep that the bone could be seen, and then he quickly moved away with a cold look in his eyes.

Throughout the afternoon, the shelter was in an efficient and quiet state of busyness.

Mu Lin not only treated A Yan's wound but also completed a preliminary inventory of the medical area. Holding a barely working electronic board he'd found on the control console, he reported to Lei Qing, "Captain Lei, we have ample supplies of medicine, especially antibiotics and surgical supplies, enough to last us several months. We also have some sealed nutritional supplements and energy-recovery supplements, which should be more effective than what we brought with us. Additionally, I found a portable blood analyzer and an ultrasound scanner. While they're older models, they're still functional and will allow us to conduct a more in-depth examination of Su Lin and A Yan."

Lei Qing listened carefully and nodded. "Well done. Prioritize Su Lin and A Yan to receive the best possible treatment."

Elsewhere, Stardust's investigation had yielded preliminary results. He opened his eyes, his face pale, clearly drained of mental energy. "Captain Lei, we've completed the structural survey of the shelter. Aside from the main entrance we entered, no other exits have been found. The entire shelter is a sealed structure, maintained by geothermal power generation and an internal circulation system. I've checked the core control unit of the defense system; it's incredibly robust. Once the main entrance's airtight door is locked from the inside and defense mode activated, it can withstand sustained attacks from heavy weapons."

He paused, took a breath, and continued, "As for the outside world... the situation isn't optimistic. I sense at least three different mental forces scanning the surrounding area repeatedly and carefully. They haven't yet discovered the precise location of the entrance due to interference from the nearby rock structure and the chaotic energy field left by the mutated leeches. But... they're gradually narrowing the scope. Furthermore, I detected a trace of extremely obscure, yet high-level, residual mental fluctuations. It's very cold, carrying a sense of... programmed destruction, much like the feeling of 'annihilation' from before. However, it doesn't seem to be nearby, more like remote monitoring or guiding the search."

Lei Qing's brow furrowed. The situation was more pressing than he'd anticipated. "Which means, while we're safe, we're trapped, and the enemy is closing in."

"Yes," Stardust confirmed. "Based on their current search speed and accuracy, they might be able to locate the entrance in... two days at most."

Two days. This time weighed like a huge rock on everyone's heart.

"That's enough." Lei Qing's voice remained steady. "Two days is enough time for Su Lin to regain his mobility, and A Yan's wounds to heal initially. Mu Lin, expedite the treatment. Xingchen, continue monitoring the outside world and report any changes immediately. A Yan, recover your strength as quickly as possible. Ling Ye..." He looked at Ling Ye, who had been silently guarding the bed. "When Su Lin wakes up, tell him what happened so he can be mentally prepared."

Ling Ye raised his eyes, met Lei Qing's gaze for a moment, and nodded slightly to show that he understood.

As the internal timekeeping system determined nightfall, a steady, soft light illuminated the shelter. Mu Lin used the nutritional mixture he had found to prepare a simple liquid meal, feeding the still-drowsy Su Lin and replenishing A Yan's energy. Ling Ye ate a simple meal, his eyes never leaving Su Lin.

Later in the night, Su Lin's eyelashes fluttered a few times, and he slowly opened his eyes. This time, his gaze was no longer the distracted and confused look he'd had before, but instead held the haziness of waking up and a hint of clarity after a period of weakness. He blinked, adjusting to the light, and his gaze first met Ling Ye, who was standing beside the bed.

"Ling Ye...?" His voice was still hoarse, but with noticeable strength.

Ling Ye's tense shoulders relaxed slightly. He leaned over, picked up the warm water beside him, and carefully fed it to his mouth with a straw. "How do you feel?"

Su Lin sipped the water, the cool liquid sliding down his dry throat, bringing a sense of comfort. He nodded gently and tried to move his arm. Although it was still sore and weak, the heart-wrenching pain was gone. "Much better... just no strength." He looked around at the unfamiliar, technologically-charged room. "Where is this...?"

"It's a refuge from the old times. We are safe for now." Ling Ye explained concisely. At the same time, according to Lei Qing's instructions, he clearly told him the current situation they were facing - safe but besieged, with limited time.

Su Lin listened, a flicker of worry crossing his pale face, but it was quickly replaced by determination. "I understand... I'll get better soon." He looked at Ling Ye, his amber eyes reflecting the light, filled with dependence and trust. "Thank you for your hard work, Brother Ling Ye."

Ling Ye didn't answer, but just reached out and tucked the corner of the quilt for him, his movements were natural.

The next day, thanks to Mu Lin's meticulous care and the shelter's welcoming environment, Su Lin recovered rapidly. With Ling Ye's support, he could slowly sit up and even attempted to stand by the bed. While his steps were unsteady and he needed to cling to Ling Ye's arm to steady himself, he was a far cry from his previous near-death state. His face finally regained its fragile, translucent look, and his lips regained their soft, rosy hue.

A Yan's recovery was even more astonishing. He was already in a strong physique, and with Mu Lin's professional care and adequate nutrition, he was able to get out of bed and move freely. Aside from some stinging pain from the wound when he moved, he was basically fine. He began assisting Lei Qing in inspecting the shelter's defenses and testing the locking mechanism of the airtight door.

Xingchen continued to monitor the outside world. The news he brought became more urgent each time: the search area was shrinking, and the frequency of those high-level mental fluctuations was increasing.

"They may already be suspicious of this area," Stardust said during the afternoon summary, his expression serious. "By tomorrow noon at the latest, they will likely have found the precise entrance."

Inside the medical room, the atmosphere became tense again.

Lei Qing stood in the center, his eyes sweeping over Su Lin, who was able to stand but still needed Ling Ye's support, and A Yan, who had regained his mobility but not yet fully recovered his combat power, and finally fell on Mu Lin and Xing Chen.

"We don't have any more time." Lei Qing's voice was firm. "Tomorrow morning, before dawn, we must leave here."

He looked at Xingchen, "Xingchen, plan an evacuation route. Use your sense of the terrain to find the safest and most concealed path to the surface, avoiding the main search direction of the Guichen Sect."

"Yes!" Stardust responded immediately, closed his eyes again, and began to use his mental strength to construct a three-dimensional topographic map of the outside world.

"Mulin, prepare enough medical supplies and necessities, package and distribute them, and make sure everyone can carry them."

"I understand!" Mu Lin turned and walked towards the medicine cabinet and began to organize it quickly and orderly.

"Ayan, make a final check of your weapons and equipment to ensure they are in good condition."

A Yan nodded silently and walked towards the corner where the equipment was piled up.

Finally, Lei Qing looked at Ling Ye and Su Lin: "Ling Ye, Su Lin is now in your care. Make sure he can keep up with the team."

Ling Ye held Su Lin's arm and felt his slight trembling, but Su Lin's eyes were remarkably firm. Ling Ye looked at Lei Qing and said in a deep voice, "I will."

Su Lin also raised his head. Although he was weak, he tried to stand up straight: "Captain Lei, I can do it."

Lei Qing looked at them and nodded. His eyes once again swept over the shelter that had given them temporary refuge. It bore traces of their rest and recuperation, but also held unknown hidden dangers.

"Hurry up and prepare. We will break out at dawn tomorrow."

The order was given, and everyone sprang into action. The brief moment of peace was shattered, and the air once again filled with the tension and determination that characterized pre-war battles. The test of survival was about to begin again. This time, they would have to rely on their newly recovered strength to carve a path through the increasingly tightening enemy encirclement.